Panel will assign an observer to each seat
The Election Commission will keep a close watch on campaigns run by political parties and candidates in the run-up to the Assembly elections later this year.
The Election Commission will keep a close watch on campaigns run by political parties and candidates in the run-up to the Assembly elections later this year.
Delhi’s chief electoral officer Vijay Dev said the election commission would appoint one observer in each of the 70 assembly constituencies to keep an eye on the campaigns of the candidates.
“Apart from general observers, there will be a separate financial observer in each Assembly segment to monitor the election expenditure of each candidate,” Dev said.
The Assembly elections in Delhi are due in November. Since elections are due in four more states — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Mizoram — along with Delhi, the Election Commission of India is likely to announce an elaborate election schedule in September.
The election observers are neutral officers who come from different states to keep a watch on election campaigns. Their role, said officials, starts with the implementation of the model code of conduct and continues till the election process is over.
“Their (observers) tenure stretches between 45-60 days,” a senior election department official said.
Till the last elections, said officials, one observer used have 4-5 Assembly constituencies under his jurisdiction. “They have to ensure the rules and model code of conduct is not violated,” an official said.